He should definitely have kissed her whilst they’d had the chance.
And the excuse.
Her pulse fluttered. She pretended not to be affected.
“I’m not married yet,” he said. “Or betrothed, or promised, or anything of the kind.”
“Yes,” she said. “That’s the problem your guests have been summoned to solve.”
But it wasn’t what he was talking about at the moment, and she knew it.
His lips wereso close.
He lowered his head slightly. “What if—”
Loudyapssounded from the other side of the door.
“Max,” she stammered. “He’s going to scratch through your expensive door and maul me through my stockings.”
Mayhap she shouldn’t have mentioned her stockings.
“Ah.” Nottingvale took a half-step back. “I would never put you in danger.”
“I put myself in danger all of the time,” she babbled. “Like the time I invited the bachelor host of a Christmastide party to follow me unaccompanied down an empty corridor because I secretly wished he would kiss me even though it’s a dreadful idea from all angles and—why am I telling you this?”
His eyes darkened and he reached for her.
“Cynthia Louise!” came a sunny voice from down the hall. “I should’ve known you’d attend to Max. Shall I return to the ballroom?”
“Gertie. What wonderful timing! Do come save me from myself, if you wouldn’t mind, darling.” Cynthia fumbled for the door handle, scarcely registering the feel of Max’s little paws climbing her legs. “Lovely chat, Nottingvale. I’m sure you’re anxious to get back to your party. All those future duchesses under one roof.”
“That was rude,” Gertie said when Cynthia all but slammed the door in their host’s handsome face.
“It wasn’t rude,” Cynthia told her. “It was self-preservation.”
Gertie drew herself up straight, eyes flashing. “If that blackguard—”
“Nothim, darling.Me. I’m supposed to be matchmaking him toyou, not kissing him in the corridor.”
Gertie squealed and clapped her hands. “Youkissedhim?”
“I did not,” Cynthia said quickly, grateful it was true. “But... I wanted to.”
“You should have,” Gertie said. “We all thought he was going to up there on the stage.”
“He was acting,” Cynthia reminded her.
Gertie shrugged. “It didn’t look like it.”
“You’re not listening to me.” Cynthia scooped up the bouncing puppy and tried again. “I’m failing you. I’m supposed to be driving his attention in your direction, and instead he looks at me like... like...”
“Like he’s not pretending when he says he wants to kiss you?”
“Yes,” she burst out desperately. “Exactly like that! I am a horrid chaperone and an even worse matchmaker.”
“But you’re a wonderful cousin,” Gertie said. “Only an idiot would fail to see your charms, and Nottingvale is clearly a clever man.”
“You’re not helping,” Cynthia muttered.
